By Rebecca Dopp
Times-News Correspondent
Lynette Robinson, a representative of Six County
Association of Governments, offered a self-help housing
project proposal to Levan council. The organization was
contacted by USDA Rural Development to do a feasibility
study to see if they can support a project.
Mutual self-help is affordable housing through "sweat
equity". It would consist of nine families or individuals
who would work together as a group under the guidance of a
construction supervisor to perform approximately 65% of the
labor on their homes. This labor not only acts as a
downpayment, but can reduce the price of the home by as much
as 20%.
The main "key players" would be USDA Rural Development,
the families, Six County AOG and the communities. Rural
Development would grant funds to run the program and pay
staff, assist in recruiting and determining applicant
eligibility, and provide mortgage loans for the
families.
Six County AOG would provide program management,
recruiting eligible families, find and/or develop land and
help families budget mortgage payments.
The families would need to provide income and credit to
support a mortgage payment, but payments could be subsidized
up to the current rate of 6% and as low as 1%. This would
depend on the families incomes. They would need to have a
willingness to learn new skills, commit to a 30-35 hour work
week for the next 10 to 12 months. These hours would be
mainly in the evenings and on weekends. They would also work
as a team with the other participating families.
The communities would have to show availability of land,
encourage and give support, and have access to a city or
county building inspector.
In order to get the grant, there needs to be eligible
families, applications ready and buildable lots.
The end result would be houses that cannot appraise for
more than $147,000. There would be various floor plans to
choose from.
The project would consist of 18 homes in two phases over
two years. The homes would not be more than 5 miles apart
from each other.
The lots would be bought outright and be included in the
mortgage payment.
A questionnaire was handed out to the council with
several questions inquiring about such things as strain on
resources, or proximity of supplies.
The council had some concerns over availability of lots,
but generally felt the project to be worth looking into.
Interested parties would need to apply through Rural
Development in Manti. They would need to be first time
homeowners.
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